This is a discussion on all-in first hand within the online poker forums, in the Learning Poker section; Hi friends. Probably everyone has seen with the situation:
MTT, first hand and one of the players raise all-in.
what to do in this case? Most of

MTT, first hand and one of the players raise all-in.
what to do in this case? Most of the hands I fold. even where AK-AJ and low pair - 22-99. There is a fear to lose in the first round. Many times I'm having AA-AJ or JJ or QQ to lose for example K8 or 78, J9...
Any Advice? How to deal with them?

p.s. sorry for inglish

#2

9th August 2016, 8:36 PM

Slightjke [21]

Game: nl holdem

in the first 10-15 minutes, I'm trying to get as much information about your opponents at the table. and calls only with monster hands

#3

10th August 2016, 12:31 AM

rigor mortis [291]

Unless you have a monster hand, ie one which is most unlikely to lose, simply fold. It isn't worth getting knocked out in the first round.

#4

10th August 2016, 12:54 AM

TheImperator [160]

Online Poker at: ACR

Game: All games.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with folding.

However, in the games I play, there is re-entry for the first hour, so I'm more likely to take a swing with less than I would in a freezeout. People definitely make these shoves VERY wide.

At the same time, it can also make shoving your own KK or AA a very profitable play in the first few hands of a tournament, because people also CALL very wide.

It's not just a micro phenomenon, either... I used to see players do it quite often in the $12 games back before Black Friday.

#5

10th August 2016, 1:24 AM

CallmeFloppy [490]

Poker at: ACR

Game: Hold-Em

This is one of the reasons I like to late register to re-buys. I hate to bingo play at the start and prefer to wait until most of that has died out.

#6

10th August 2016, 2:57 AM

Tomioto3095 [56]

Online Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Holdem omaha

In the beginning of the tournament, probably i will call only if i had monster hand, like AA,KK, because it's hard to call all in without have any information about the player

#7

10th August 2016, 7:05 AM

chikistq [32]

Poker at: pokerstars

Game: Holdem

re: Poker & all-in first hand

Originally Posted by TheImperator

There's absolutely nothing wrong with folding.
However, in the games I play, there is re-entry for the first hour, ...

when possible re-entry, of course you need to try all-in

in the first 10-15 minutes, I'm trying to get as much information about your opponents at the table

I play micro limits and my opponents principally weak players. lots of tables and frequent change of players. they to CALL very wide. it is not possible to calculate. only after 1-2 hours of play remain adequate players.

p.s. about a monster hand like a quote "I Hate Pocket Aces/My Aces Never Win"

#8

10th August 2016, 7:48 AM

ayahuasca [309]

Online Poker at: PokerStars

Game: Holdem

It doesn't matter if it's the first hand or not, just play wisely.

#9

10th August 2016, 9:43 AM

Edson [278]

Poker at: PokerStars

Game: Holdem

It depends of position. Of course You should call that with KK and AA, what about other hands? It would be ok when You know that nobody call it too.
When You will have showdown against only that one player your range can be a little bigger than KK+. His all-in range in first hand is very big so if You will play only against him I think it's ok to call with middle pairs, or something like QK

#10

10th August 2016, 12:39 PM

Samuel Lee [90]

Online Poker at: PokerStars

Game: NL Hold'Em

In the first levels you don't have to risk your place in the tournament unless you have AA or KK. Not even AK because people are going all in with any lower pair and even any Ax so it's not worth to bother. Hang in there and wait for the fishes to get out.

#11

10th August 2016, 3:07 PM

ayahuasca [309]

Poker at: PokerStars

Game: Holdem

Originally Posted by Samuel Lee

In the first levels you don't have to risk your place in the tournament unless you have AA or KK. Not even AK because people are going all in with any lower pair and even any Ax so it's not worth to bother. Hang in there and wait for the fishes to get out.

This.

#12

10th August 2016, 3:16 PM

coachlary69 [200]

Online Poker at: ACR

Game: holdem

Like some of the other posts, I'm only calling with AA or KK. And, when playing a freeroll I hate to be on a table when 5 people go all-in trying to get lucky. But I understand this is the nature of freerolls, and very small buy in tournaments with rebuys and I just have to adjust. And as several players have stated, it's not who has the most chips in the beginning of the tournament that usually wins, but the patient player, so that is how I have patterned my game, with discipline and patience. I've actually won a few tournaments where I barely made the bubble only to move up through the field and make it to the final table. Another piece of advice is that when I see players going all-in like that I look them up on Sharkscope. Sharkscope provides me with plenty of information on whether this is a winning player, his ROI, etc. Very useful short term, and long term.

#13

10th August 2016, 3:44 PM

Ac3 Meister [72]

Poker at: pokerstars

Game: no lim holde

I only call all ins in the first part of a mtt with ak or aa

#14

10th August 2016, 5:36 PM

TheImperator [160]

Online Poker at: ACR

Game: All games.

re: Poker & all-in first hand

Originally Posted by Samuel Lee

In the first levels you don't have to risk your place in the tournament unless you have AA or KK. Not even AK because people are going all in with any lower pair and even any Ax so it's not worth to bother. Hang in there and wait for the fishes to get out.

If people are going all-in with much worse hands, then calling with literally only the top 1% of hands is -EV.

You may choose not to endanger yourself, and that's fine and good -- but if you know they are shoving much wider, and you still will only call with AA and KK, you are turning down a lot of profitable situations to double up.

#15

11th August 2016, 11:42 AM

thetick33 [1,526]

Poker at: acr

Game: holdem

Originally Posted by chikistq

Hi friends. Probably everyone has seen with the situation:

MTT, first hand and one of the players raise all-in.
what to do in this case? Most of the hands I fold. even where AK-AJ and low pair - 22-99. There is a fear to lose in the first round. Many times I'm having AA-AJ or JJ or QQ to lose for example K8 or 78, J9...
Any Advice? How to deal with them?

p.s. sorry for inglish

first where are you playing what poker room. Second what types of tournaments are these? Meaning cost of entry are they rebuys do you play multiple rooms or one game at a time etc.. All these things are a factor to how I would play is this re entry or rebuy add on events? How long is late registration?

Next biggest thing when have all that information would be note taking on each player and their history. If is a new game you got to get started somewhere with notes or at least that is where I start. I do not take notes on each and every game or each and every person but the notes I do not take is because I already know this player from here etc.. If is new field etc.. im taking notes especially for future reference and in freezeouts. I play multiple games at a time so most times im looser than should be but I come out ok and ahead. In most situations that you have related I would be calling people. Especially if the parameters meet expectation or mine. I find to be most often a lot of players need stacks to be comfortable. They are very loose early so me calling all ins with pockets is something I do regularly cause often is easy chips and they are playing jack 7 offsuit and just an nut

Do i get beaten every day do I win a little sure its poker

I also never play in fear is always a next game That makes it easier to make calls

#16

11th August 2016, 12:03 PM

Steve Deeble [3]

Definitely want to have AA or KK otherwise too risky too early in the tournament. Also the number of callers and table position should aid in your decision.

#17

11th August 2016, 6:05 PM

sellless [26]

Game: nl holdem

Agree with most others. AA, KK then you have to. Sure, you'll lose a bunch but over the long term you'll win.

If you know your opponents (if you play the same tournaments all the time then you probably do) then you'll know if they're playing bingo or not. The biggest issue is whether the tourny is a rebuy or not and if you have a decent wallet.

#18

11th August 2016, 7:31 PM

Sar52 [41]

Online Poker at: PokerStars

Game: HOLDEM

playing in the tournament with a lot of players with good cards , you can go ALL IN ... and get a good stack and the beginning

#19

11th August 2016, 7:36 PM

korneel [496]

It depends on which sort of tournament you play.
I play alot of micro-turbo tournaments, so I go all-in in such cases. Because you need to win some chips fast, otherwise you will be blind-out in no-time.

#20

11th August 2016, 7:49 PM

mikikunc [18]

I always play my game.
It does not matter which hand is. Micro, Turbo turnaments require aggressive play.

#21

11th August 2016, 8:02 PM

makisaa [409]

re: Poker & all-in first hand

Depends from your judjement, because it is not wise to expect to win only with AA, AK, AQ etc!

#22

12th August 2016, 7:56 PM

Mircea Craciun [21]

Online Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: hold'em

Depending on the tournament, I usually call all-ins in the firsts hands with AK+.

#23

12th August 2016, 8:06 PM

IntenseHeat [609]

Poker at: Intertops

Game: Hold'em

I'm not going to fold my A-A pre-flop to anyone at pretty much any time, not the first hand of a tourney, not on the bubble. If you get me, I guess you just get me. Any other hand I would probably go ahead and fold and let the donkeys knock each other out while I take note of who played what and start getting an idea of where I can expect my chips to come from.

#24

12th August 2016, 8:18 PM

zreokell [9]

Online Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Holdem

pokerstars FAKE?

a lot of people just go all-in with K-9 and J-8.
bad thing is they usually wins from AK / JJ by hitting straights and shit.
although i think the pokerstars software is rigged.
there servers are in countries without any laws to check.
i think pokerstars should be banned all over the world unless there is some form of control over it

#25

12th August 2016, 8:26 PM

Broon1234 [132]

Game: NL HE

I tend to call a little wider as most people are shoving wide and a double early gives you huge advantages. You're looking to win the tourney not min cash. That said you want to make sure you feel like you're ahead of villains range

yeah, I think a lot of people already said it, but I would only do it with QQ, KK, AK and AA (maybe JJ or AQ depending on the overall view of the guy - if he is a newbie and have no status, like silverstar or goldstar in Pokerstars, I usually think that he is probably a crazy bingo player)

but it really depends, of course you are talking about bigger MTT games and tourneys, but in hyper games this happens all the time, maybe some players get so used to it that they start to just do it in every type of game hehe

#29

13th August 2016, 5:12 AM

TheImperator [160]

Poker at: ACR

Game: All games.

Originally Posted by zreokell

a lot of people just go all-in with K-9 and J-8.
bad thing is they usually wins from AK / JJ by hitting straights and shit.
although i think the pokerstars software is rigged.
there servers are in countries without any laws to check.
i think pokerstars should be banned all over the world unless there is some form of control over it

Your first post on the site was to say the biggest site in the world is rigged? Mmkay...

I made six figures from PokerStars in my life, before Black Friday. It isn't rigged.

I don't think people understand that they aren't playing against the house, and that the poker site gets their money (the rake) whether you win or if you get donked. They have literally no interest in who wins or loses.

#30

13th August 2016, 6:30 PM

Sidetracked [286]

I call with AA, KK and QQ.

Some players go all in 1st hand light, and some only with AA. Difficult decision with no info on opponents.

#31

14th August 2016, 6:00 PM

Ganj182 [174]

Poker at: pokerstars

Game: Texas holdem

Bet on all the bad choices she justifies itself only when you have enough chips ostaetsya relatively blinds.

#32

16th August 2016, 9:54 AM

ohshootmybad [7,931]

Is it a freeroll? If yes, get your chips in with your premiums. I'd say 1010+, AK, A10s+

Is it a re-buy/re-entry MTT? If yes, get your chips in with your premiums.

Just fold everything else.

And don't worry if you call with a good hand and you lose. If you got your money in good, you're good.

#33

17th August 2016, 9:25 AM

max chong [200]

think better to wait a while, unless you not a monster pair of such players usually otseevayutsya after 20 minutes of play

#34

20th August 2016, 5:42 PM

Ganj182 [174]

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: Texas holdem

at the beginning of the tournament to go preflop all-in just stupid

#35

21st August 2016, 2:55 PM

BadluckBubba [320]

Poker at: ACR

Game: Holdem

re: Poker & all-in first hand

Yesterday I had several freerolls going at once. One of them the 3rd hand the same player had gone all in all 3 hands. Won one, lost the 2nd and both had rags. He shoved again. I called with AK suited knowing he had junk. He had 34 suited, same suit as me. Both of us had a flush draw and nothing else by the turn. He rivered a 4 and I was out.

5 hands later on a slightly older tourny I had AK suited again in the big blind. Button min raises, I reraised 6xbb he shoved. I shoved. Again 34 suited, same suit as my AK. We both had flush draws by the river. This time my opponent rivered a 3 and yet again I was out.

I dont know how in these circumstances anyone is folding these hands knowing your opponent likely has junk and knowing you will be heads up with them. How anyone wouldnt be thrilled turning over AK suited to see same suit of 34 I dont know. Yet, losing is losing.